National Poetry Writing Month 2019, early-bird poem

National Poetry Writing Month 2019, early-bird poem

For this early-bird poem, I followed the napowrimo.net prompt—sort of. Instead of a self-portrait as a historical or mythical figure, I made myself the figure in a photograph I took in January 2009 of a man standing in a graveyard.

Self-portrait as the unknown figure in the photograph

Back turned, head downI am unaware of the driver in the car across the streetwaiting for the light to change

I don’t believe time stands stillbut if it’s possible, the moment is this one

the one that’s as blank as the fog beyond these treesand as grey and formless as my face, turned away

Like how you have built up the mystery from the photo and within the poem itself, along with how you used your own interpretation of the prompt. The whole scene is pulsing with electricity, a timeless moment indeed.